at the same time drew open the mantle which she held closely clasped to her bosom; but beneath it were only red and white roses, the most beautiful he had ever seen; and this astonished him, as it was no longer the season of flowers. Seeing that Elizabeth was troubled, he sought to console her by his caresses, but he ceased suddenly, on seeing over her head a luminous appearance in the form of a crucifix.

8. He then desired her to continue her route without being disturbed by him, and he returned to Wartburg, meditating with recollection on what God did for her, and carrying with him one of these wonderful roses, which he possessed all his life. At the spot where this meeting took place, he erected a pillar, surmounted by a cross, to consecrate for ever the remembrance of that which he had seen hovering over the head of his wife. MONTALEMBERT.'

III.

36. THE QUEEN'S KISS.

PART FIRST.

N all the blessed calendar,

IN

The sweetest saint I hold to be
Thuringia's gracious LandgravÏne,2
Elizabeth of Hungary.

2. A heart of love, a soul of fire,
A hand to sueeor and to bless,
A life one passionate desire
For pure and perfect holiness.
8. They brighten the historic page,
Those legends, beautiful and quaint,
Of miracles that so illume
The tragic history of our saint.
4. The story of her fåsts, relieved
By angels' serving food divine,

1 Count Charles Forbes Rene
de Montalembert, a French states-
man, born in London May 29, 1810;
died in Paris March 13, 1870.
was distinguished for his efforts in
behalf of free Catholic education,

He

and is the author of several valuable works, the best known of which are "The Monks of the West" and the "Life of St. Elizabeth of Hungary."

2 Lănd'gra vine, the wife of a landgrave or German nobleman.

Of water from her goblet turned,
Upon her fainting lips, to wine.

5. The story of the lěprous child

She laid upon her own soft bed;
And how the court stormed at the deed,
And all her maids in terror fled.

8. How, chiding, came her angered lord,
To find his chamber filled with light,
And on his couch a Christ-child fair,

That smiled and vanished from his sight!

7. The story of the beggar, crouched

Upon her court-yard's pavement cold, O'er whom she flung in Christ's dear name Her ermined mantle, wrought with gold. 8. And how it was the Lord Himself

Who, in that abject human form,
So moved her heart-to whom she gave
Such royal covering from the storm.
9. And that dear legend that they keep
In roses round her castle still,
Her memory blooming bright and sweet
By Wartburg's steep and rocky hill;
10. How, one midwinter day, she went
Adown the icy päth, to bear

A store of meat and eggs and bread,
To cheer the poor who claimed her care;

11. How, hiding all beneath her robes,

Against the tempest toiling down,
She met the landgrave face to face,

And, trembling, stood before his frown.
12. And how, "What dost thou here, my wife?
What bearest thou?" he sternly said,
And oped her mantle's folds, to find
Within but roses, white and red!

13. How then he thought to kiss her cheek,
But dared not, and could only lay

One rose, a rose of Paradise,
Against his heart, and go his way.

IV.

37. THE QUEEN'S KISS.

W

PART SECOND.

ITHIN the French king's banquet-hall,
Upon the royal dā′is raised,

Sat Blanche, the queen from fair Căstile,
The princess by our Shakespeare praised.

2. She who, through blessèd motherhood, A more than royal glory won

From Louis, kingliest of saints,

And saintliest of kings, her son.

8. It chanced that, as the lovely queen
Gazed round the bannered hall that day,
She marked a pensive stranger stand
Beyond a group of pages gay.

4. A fair, slight youth, with deep blue eyes,
And tender mouth that seldom smiled,
And long, bright hair that backward flowed,
From off a forehead pure and mild.

5. "Know'st thou, my dear lord cardinal,

Yon fair-haired page that stands apart?" Asked Blanche, the queen; "his sad face brings A strange, deep yearning to my heart."

6. "Your highness, from a blessed life,
Now hid in God, that youth drew breath;
"Tis Herman, of Thuringia,

The son of St. Elizabeth."

7. Then rose Queen Blanche, and went and stood, In all her state, before the lad,

And fixed upon his comely face

A

gaze hälf tender and half sad.

8. "Thou'rt welcome to our court, fair prince !"
At last she said, and softly smiled.
"Thou hadst a blessèd mother once;

Wilt tell me where she kissed her child?"

9. He like his mother's roses stood,

All white and red with shy surprise;

'Twas here, your majesty," he said,

And touched his brow between his eyes.

10. Fair Blanche of Castile bowed, and pressed
A reverent kiss upon the place;

Then crossed her hands upon her breast,
Exclaiming with uplifted face:

11. "Pray for us! dear and blessed one!
Young victor over sin and death!

Thou tender mother! spotless wife!
Thou sweetest St. Elizabeth !"

GRACE GREENWOOD.

SECTION XI.

I.

38. THE WIND IN A FROLIC.

HE wind, one morning, sprang up from sleep,

THE

Saying, "Now for a frolic! now for a leap!

Now for a madcap galloping chase!

I'll make a commotion in čvèry place!"